East Kilbride/Barrhead electrification updates

[McRhu]

If it had been the Larkhall Branch I could probably hazard a good guess about "KB"...

 

[E400Lover101]

I have noticed there has been quite a few masts that have been fitted with cantilevers in Clarkston.

 

[Southsider]

Do you know what the letters are?

Also shows the clearance a 156 has. Possibly room for a pantograph fully retracted into its well?

 

[380101]

Also shows the clearance a 156 has. Possibly room for a pantograph fully retracted into its well?
View attachment 164046

View attachment 164047

If the pantograph was fully retracted into the well, the contact wire would be touching the roof, GSM-R aerial, tpws aerials, air-conditioning units etc.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

If the pantograph was fully retracted into the well, the contact wire would be touching the roof, GSM-R aerial, tpws aerials, air-conditioning units etc.

Yes, to my untrained eye it looks very tight.

 

[E400Lover101]

Yes, to my untrained eye it looks very tight.

As mentioned in previous posts, there is speculation of a track lower.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

As mentioned in previous posts, there is speculation of a track lower.

That makes sense and thanks for pointing it out - I had forgotten about that.

 

[Nottingham59]

Yes, to my untrained eye it looks very tight.

If they were going to lower the track, then I would expect them to do that before erecting the overhead masts. So my guess is that it will probably fit.

The brackets to support the catenary wire point down from the swinging cantilever arms. (Usually they point up, to allow the catenary to be supported well above the level of the contact wire, for a long gap between masts. But here, I'm guessing there will be another pair of masts on the other side of the bridge, with an equally low catenary wire, to minimise the depth of the catenary arc.)

A straight line between these suspension points (shown in red below) crosses the centre-line of the train with about a window's height of clearance above the train roof (shown with blue arrow). So the catenary wire will be about 60cm above the train at the point of suspension. I'm guessing the contact wire will be just below mid-way between these, so around 20cm clearance. Is that enough clearance for normal operations?



Then if you draw the lines of perspective to the vanishing point off the left (thin yellow lines below), then the line of the contact wire (thick yellow line), it looks to me that it will comfortably fit under the bridge. At this point, the catenary wire will be clamped to the contact wire with zero-length droppers. So that should fit too.


So I'm guessing that it will all fit. But I could be completely wrong of course!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Thank you very much that is a detailed and well-reasoned explanation.

 

[zwk500]

For some numbers, this 2015 Guide has the following

Completely free clearance: 5.1m
Normal clearance with OLE arms attached directly to bridge (so less movement): 4.78m
Reduced or Special clearance: 4.5m.

Elsewhere it cites an absolute minimum of 4.165m to get under a bridge. I couldn't find anything in my brief google confirming how wide a pantograph would be and thus what the arch clearances should be, but if anybody can use @Nottingham59's marked up picture and a height for the train we should see what's likely to be an option.

Clearance for anybody on top of the bridge can of course be dealt with by a 1.8m parapet.

 

[Southsider]

If the pantograph was fully retracted into the well, the contact wire would be touching the roof, GSM-R aerial, tpws aerials, air-conditioning units etc.

Sorry, my poor wording. I meant at the lowest operational height.

For some numbers, this 2015 Guide has the following
View attachment 164078
Completely free clearance: 5.1m
Normal clearance with OLE arms attached directly to bridge (so less movement): 4.78m
Reduced or Special clearance: 4.5m.

Elsewhere it cites an absolute minimum of 4.165m to get under a bridge. I couldn't find anything in my brief google confirming how wide a pantograph would be and thus what the arch clearances should be, but if anybody can use @Nottingham59's marked up picture and a height for the train we should see what's likely to be an option.

Clearance for anybody on top of the bridge can of course be dealt with by a 1.8m parapet.

According to Wikipedia a 156 is 3.8m high so is there 700mm (4.5-3.8) clearance between the outermost position of a pantograph and the shoulder of the bridge arch? Difficult to tell.

 

[snowball]

Press release

Work starts at Giffnock station as part of £140m enhancement project

Network Rail and contractor AmcoGiffen will shortly begin work at Giffnock station as part of the East Kilbride Enhancement electrification project.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Network Rail and contractor AmcoGiffen will shortly begin work at Giffnock station as part of the East Kilbride Enhancement electrification project.

Preparatory work starts from mid-September in advance of a new, accessible footbridge being installed at the station next year.

It’s all part of a wider £140m investment at the centre of the Scottish Government’s ongoing strategy to decarbonise passengers services across Scotland’s Railway.

Residents and businesses in the area are being invited to a community drop-in event at Giffnock Library on September 12, from 4pm to 7pm, to ask any questions about the works.

In preparation of the project beginning, engineers will remove vegetation that’s sitting adjacent to platform 2 to create a safe working area to install the new footbridge in early 2025. The existing station footbridge will remain in use until it’s replaced by the new structure.

Piling work is due to start from October until the end of this year to install the foundations that will support the new footbridge.

Ailish Allan, Network Rail project manager for the station works, said: “The upcoming work at Giffnock station is the first phase of activity as we gear up to install of the new footbridge next year.

“Replacing the footbridge is necessary to provide the safe clearance for the new overhead line equipment that will run underneath. The new bridge will provide significant improvements, as it will have lift access to both platforms. This will make it easier for people with reduced mobility or those travelling with luggage, children, or bicycles to travel by train.

“We do appreciate the impact our activity will have on the community, particularly those living closest to the station. I would like to thank people for their patience and would encourage residents to come to our community drop-in event.”

To deliver the footbridge works, the site compound already in place at Giffnock station is expanding. This will allow the safe mobilisation of plant and machinery. It will involve utilising 68 parking spaces in total, starting from 16 September 2024 until June 2025. The remainder of the station's parking spaces will continue to be available, including accessible spaces.

The East Kilbride Enhancement project is due to be completed in December 2025.

 

[OB23Gone]

Some Examples of bridge clearances on local lines at Hawkhead, Crookston & Priesthill & Darnley

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Some Examples of bridge clearances on local lines at Hawkhead, Crookston & Priesthill & Darnley

Nice action photographs. Thanks for posting. Very illustrative.

 

[snowball]

If it had been the Larkhall Branch I could probably hazard a good guess about "KB"...

The Larkhall branch is GHL according to the page linked in #2093.

 

[Railsigns]

The Larkhall branch is GHL according to the page linked in #2093.

The code on the Larkhall branch is confirmed as GHL; I think @McRhu was making a King Billy joke.

 

[Southsider]

Some Examples of bridge clearances on local lines at Hawkhead, Crookston & Priesthill & Darnley

I don’t think there’s a problem getting the wires under, it’s will the pantograph foul the arch. Illustration from Paisley Canal project. I don’t know which bridge this refers to though.

 

[Nottingham59]

I don’t know which bridge this refers to though.

The Paisley Canal electrification project was famous for the special measures needed to achieve electrical clearances. I don't know what they were, but I've not heard the same concerns voiced for Barrhead/East Kilbride

 

[snowball]

The Paisley Canal electrification project was famous for the special measures needed to achieve electrical clearances. I don't know what they were, but I've not heard the same concerns voiced for Barrhead/East Kilbride

If I remember correctly, on the Paisley Canal line, bridge reconstructions were avoided by placing the contact wire so low that EMUs can operate normally (not sure whether all classes allowed), but locomotives can only pass when the power is off.

 

[Railsigns]

If I remember correctly, on the Paisley Canal line, bridge reconstructions were avoided by placing the contact wire so low that EMUs can operate normally (not sure whether all classes allowed), but locomotives can only pass when the power is off.

This is true, but also the wires aren't live where they pass under the lowest bridges.

 

[OB23Gone]

Hairmyres NEW Station todays UPDATE in Photos

Hairmyres NEW Station todays UPDATE in Photos

Looking at last week's photo this work had not been started

 

[E400Lover101]

Hairmyres NEW Station todays UPDATE in Photos


Looking at last week's photo this work had not been started

Looking good!


________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
So, if we look ahead to next month (28/09/24 until 01/10/24) This is what I know about the work due to be taking place on those dates:

- Demolition and reconstruction of the B769 (Thornliebank Road Bridge).

- Demolition of the footbridge at Westerton Lane, Busby.

- Continuous piling work and steelwork installation.

- Continuous work on East Kilbride and Hairmyres stations.

- Footbridge works at Busby and Giffnock.

That is all that I know of for the timebeing.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Looking good!


________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
So, if we look ahead to next month (28/09/24 until 01/10/24) This is what I know about the work due to be taking place on those dates:

- Demolition and reconstruction of the B769 (Thornliebank Road Bridge).

- Demolition of the footbridge at Westerton Lane, Busby.

- Continuous piling work and steelwork installation.

- Continuous work on East Kilbride and Hairmyres stations.

That is all that I know of for the time being.

It is always good when there is a mapped out programme of work. Good to see. thanks for the summary.

 

[s55823ewj]

Tellmescotland notice for the closure of Glenville Gate in Busby (for the replacement of station footbridge). Overnight road closures 26 September to 31 March (2025).

tellmescotland

tellmescotland.gov.uk

 

[E400Lover101]

Tellmescotland notice for the closure of Glenville Gate in Busby (for the replacement of station footbridge). Overnight road closures 26 September to 31 March (2025).

tellmescotland

tellmescotland.gov.uk

Cool, That's been added to the list, aswell as Giffnock in post #2,122.

 

[s55823ewj]

The original roadworksscotland notice for the bridge at Clarkston Road (suggesting a four year closure) has been removed.

 

[snowball]

Press release

Next phase of work begins as part of £140m East Kilbride and Barrhead railway investment

The next steps in a major investment across the East Kilbride and Barrhead railway lines will begin next month.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

The next steps in a major investment across the East Kilbride and Barrhead railway lines will begin next month.

Network Rail will demolish and replace bridges on Thornliebank Road in Glasgow’s southside, and Westerton Lane near Busby station as part of the £140m East Kilbride Enhancement Project.

Both bridges are being removed from 28 September to 1 October ahead of their replacement next year, to create enough space underneath for new overhead line equipment that will allow electric trains to run on the route.

At the same time (28 September – 1 October), a new accessible bridge will be craned into position at the new Hairmyres station, with drainage works also taking place between Hairmyres and East Kilbride stations.

In addition, a separate £5m track renewal project, designed to improve service reliability, will begin at Busby Junction, where the East Kilbride and Barrhead lines meet.

No trains will run on both lines from 1:15am on Saturday 28 September until 5:30am on Tuesday 1 October, to allow the work to take place, with replacement buses running for passengers.

Ahead of the bridge demolitions, the existing footbridge that serves the footpath between platforms 1 and 2 at Thornliebank station is being removed overnight on Saturday 21 September.

A diversionary route will be in place during that work via a temporary footbridge on Thornliebank Road.

Paul Reilly, senior programme manager, Network Rail, said: “The last weekend in September will see the delivery of multiple engineering works as the East Kilbride Enhancement Project continues to push forward.

“We understand that there may be some inconvenience as our teams work around-the-clock at several locations. The bridge demolitions, however, can only take place during a period of continuous working, with no trains running on the route.

“Rather than having a separate disruptive closure of the line, we’re maximising this closure to deliver other critical elements, such as the bridge lift at Hairmyres. This will mean an additional closure of the line will not be required for that work.

“We thank passengers and the wider community for their patience and understanding while we deliver these works.”

Eddie McLoone, project manager, Network Rail, said: “Our aim across all these works is to enhance and improve the infrastructure for our passengers and freight customers.

“The work to Busby Junction is critical engineering that will help improve reliability. Although there will be short-term disruption, the long-term benefits means that by renewing the junction, work won’t be required on this scale for many years to come.”

 

[Southsider]

We love to see it! Looks like they're using that portal as a Mid-Point Anchor (MPA); the catenary will be affixed either side of the boom and will be free to expand/contract either side. (Understandably this doesn't work for the contact wire.)
First time I've seen this arrangement in Scotland - it was plentiful on the MML but this is the first time I've seen SPL put one of these in north of the border.

Is this the same or similar arrangement a couple of hundred yards away but on the Neilston line at Williamwood station.

 

[59CosG95]

Is this the same or similar arrangement a couple of hundred yards away but on the Neilston line at Williamwood station.

View attachment 164633

Exactly the same! (But with more modern small part steelwork)

 

[s55823ewj]

Tellmescotland notice for the closure of Station Road, Busby from 16 September 2024 until 28 February 2025. https://tellmescotland.gov.uk/tellm...ail?uuid=75d2fbc7-b98e-357e-bc26-581dae572bb9